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QualityLogic Program and Test Tools Used by UL to Test AeroVironment and Kitu Systems Products for Conformance

Conformance testing of the IEEE 2030.5 standard is an important step in driving adoption of the standard and giving us confidence that we can move forward with it.

Northbrook, Ill.; Simi Valley, Calif. (PRWEB)February 09, 2016

QualityLogic, a leading developer of interoperability test tools for the smart grid industry, and UL, a global safety science organization, have announced that UL has conducted the first of its kind formal conformance test on three products that use Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 2030.5 as a communications protocol. The products tested were Client and Server IEEE 2030.5 conformant products from Kitu Systems and EV charging stations from AeroVironment. UL’s conformance testing uses QualityLogic’s IEEE 2030.5 test tools, approved by the Consortium for Smart Energy Profile 2.0 Interoperability (CSEP), along with a QualityLogic designed testing process. Testing assessed the conformance of IEEE 2030.5 (also known as SEP2.0) implementations to the IEEE 2030.5 and SAE J2847 (designates use cases for Electric Vehicle (EV) charging communications) standards.

IEEE 2030.5 is the internationally adopted standard for providing secure encrypted smart grid communications from energy management systems to end users and devices. It has been adopted in California’s Rule 21 as the interface standard between utilities and emerging "smart" inverters that integrate renewable energy, electric vehicles, and other distributed energy resources into grid operations.

“We are planning for open standards based communications between our operations and the smart inverters in our territory,” said Denver Hinds, R&D Lab Manager, with Sacramento Municipal Utility District. “Conformance testing of the IEEE 2030.5 standard is an important step in driving adoption of the standard and giving us confidence that we can move forward with it.”

For plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) drivers and vehicles, IEEE 2030.5 covers the communications needed for providing information on pricing, energy usage, and charging control to meet drivers' needs, and also to participate in utility programs, such as demand response and time of use pricing. IEEE 2030.5 is the only full-path standards-based protocol that enables connection from the cloud to the charge station and from the charge station to the vehicle.

AeroVironment has implemented the IEEE 2030.5 standard in its model EVSE-RS EV charging station, one of the most widely deployed home EV chargers in North America. “The IEEE 2030.5 standard is accepted and increasingly used as a communications protocol for many types of devices, including solar smart inverters,” said Alec Brooks, Chief Technology Officer for AeroVironment’s Efficient Energy Systems business segment. “The marketplace is moving towards open standards with independent validation, and IEEE 2030.5 represents a compelling solution. The results of the UL and QualityLogic testing will increase the adoption rate for this standard and will help AeroVironment meet key criteria for deployment of new grid-tied technologies, such as electric vehicles, which we are actively supporting. It also ensures secure and reliable communications for our customers.”

The Kitu Client and Server IEEE 2030.5 conformant products tested are the basis of numerous industry implementations of the standard. “Having UL and QualityLogic validate that our core technology conforms to the IEEE 2030.5 technical specification increases the value and credibility of our technology in our customers’ eyes,” said Rick Kornfeld, Kitu CEO.

The testing is done by UL under an agreement with QualityLogic, which was announced in June of 2015. Under the agreement, UL conducts the formal testing process using the QualityLogic program and test tools, and QualityLogic maintains an online list of successfully tested IEEE 2030.5 products with detailed test reports available for download at https://www.qualitylogic.com/Smart-Grid/IEEE-2030-5-Test-Results/.

The Conformance Test Suite consists of 31 tests for the five IEEE 2030.5 core function sets required of all conformant IEEE 2030.5 products tested. Another 65 tests are included for eight optional function sets, such as demand response and metering. The combination of the core and specific optional function sets is required to implement specific products, such as smart thermostats, in-home displays and load controllers.

For additional details or a quotation, contact QualityLogic at info(at)qualitylogic(dot)com or UL at ULHelps(at)ul(dot)com.

ABOUT UL

UL is a premier global independent safety science company that has championed progress for more than 120 years. Its nearly 11,000 professionals are guided by the UL mission to promote safe working and living environments for all people. UL uses research and standards to continually advance and meet ever-evolving safety needs. We partner with businesses, manufacturers, trade associations and international regulatory authorities to bring solutions to a more complex global supply chain. For more information about our certification, testing, inspection, advisory and education services, visit http://www.ul.com.

ABOUT QUALITYLOGIC

QualityLogic designs, develops and sells smart grid test tools and associated training and support services, as well as advanced testing services. The Company was selected by the OpenADR Alliance to develop the official conformance and interoperability test tool for OpenADR compliant products, and has been delivering IEEE 2030.5 (SEP 2) conformance and interoperability test tools worldwide since 2012. The Company also offers test and certification program consulting and services for Smart Energy technologies and web and mobile applications. QualityLogic is an active participant in Smart Grid standards activities and conferences. For more information, visit https://www.qualitylogic.com/Smart-Grid/.